Marshall Jozef Pilsudski

Marshal Josef Pilsudski,
1867-1935, is seen my many Poles as the greatest Polish statesman. After
his return from exile in Siberia, where he had been sent for his
involvement in a plot to kill the Russian Czar, Joseph Pilsudski became part of the struggle for Polish
independence. This involvement involved organizing various anti-Russian militant groups, and
commanding the Polish
Legions between 1914 and 1917 under Austrian sponsorship. When the Central
Powers demanded far more Polish troops Pilsudski refused to give his
support and was imprisoned. On his release in 1917 he assumed
command of the Polish armies, and proclaimed an independent Polish
republic, which he headed. At the end of the First World War, under allied
pressure, Pilsudski the position of Premier was given to the more
conservative Ignace Jan Paderewski, a
well-known pianist and composer. Pilsudski continued as chief of
state. Pilsudski used force to expand the eastern frontier of Poland,
which resulted in the inclusion of several million Ukrainians and White
Russians into Poland. After a brief period of retirement he returned to
overthrow the elected government by a coup in 1926, and as war minister
exercised a virtual dictatorship until his death. Pilsudski ruled Poland
as a military dictator with some of the features of fascist regimes in
Germany and Italy. He was succeeded by another military man, Edward
Rydz-Smigly, whom Pilsudski had chosen as his successor prior to his death.

A photograph of one of
the many statues of Josef Pilsudski, which have sprung up around Poland
since 1990. This one is in the city of Szczecin
in north west Poland.